adj.
Pronunciation: ' tär-d ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: tar · di · er ; -est
Etymology: alteration of earlier tardif, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *tardivus, from Latin tardus
Date: 15th century
1 : moving slowly : SLUGGISH <the tardy pace at which she was obliged to walk ― Charles Dickens>
2 : delayed beyond the expected or proper time : LATE <a tardy arrival>
– tar · di · ness \ ' tär-d ē -n ə s \ noun